Baikonur, Space launch city in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan
Baikonur is a closed city in Kyzylorda Region with residential neighborhoods, launch pads, and technical facilities spread across roughly 35 square miles (90 square kilometers). Multi-story apartment blocks stand beside military control centers, while wide roads connect the different functional zones of the complex.
The site emerged from 1955 as a secret Soviet rocket testing ground under the cover name Tyuratam, before becoming the main launch site for crewed and uncrewed space missions. Russia leased the area from Kazakhstan until 2050 after the Soviet collapse and continues to operate it as a spaceport.
The city takes its name from a settlement located 320 kilometers to the northeast, chosen to conceal the launch site during the Soviet era. Russian street signs, Cyrillic lettering, and Russian administrative buildings shape the cityscape, even though the location sits on Kazakh territory.
Visitors must apply for special authorization from Russian authorities at least two months before traveling, as the city operates under Russian administration. Guided tours typically begin in Moscow or Almaty and include transport, accommodation, and supervised access clearances.
The first human spaceflight in history launched from here on April 12, 1961, when Yuri Gagarin flew Vostok 1 into Earth orbit. Today, space agencies from several countries use the launch facilities for regular supply flights to the International Space Station.
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